Donate to help Daniel

Hola, my name is Adrianna (Adrienne), I'm Daniel's wife. Many of you know him from Lobster Shack. For those who are just learning of this, Daniel has been having significant health issues since the end of June, 2024. After multiple delays and misdiagnosis's, we're finally at the point we know he has cancer, with a large abdominal tumour that's close to one foot x foot. The most recent diagnosis is Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (we are currently waiting on biopsy results to confirm this, as well as give us the type/subtype). Previously, we'd been told they thought it was Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma, at which point he was assigned an oncologist-surgeon in Playa del Carmen (there is no IMSS oncologist on the island at all).

Unfortunately, it has been one delay after the other, in both testing and treatment - a nine month, slow-motion disaster. At this point, Daniel now has kidney failure (caused by the large tumour), and we don't know the prognosis for recovery of kidney function. Daniel recently had a ureters kidney bypass done, to try and alleviate issues, but it did not work. While he experienced increased output, his kidneys are not filtering properly. He's had haemodialysis once now, but we have not been given any information what the plan/prognosis is for his kidneys and nothing has been done since (edit update Mar. 16th: bloodwork is being done to see if his kidney numbers have improved). His liver seems healthy so far, but it is being crowded by the tumour, and he has "Vena Cava Syndrome" thanks to that.

At this point, Daniel is severely malnourished and has extreme muscle wasting due to the on-going issue of ascites (fluid) in his belly. There's been times when days passed, being unable to eat anything solid, and having to wait for a paracentesis (to remove the abdominal fluid), to give him relief. The ascites has been so severe, his CT scan showed fluid in his right lung and a partially collapsed lung from it. On top of all this, there is no specific nutritional care in the IMSS hospital and I have not been allowed to bring him anything, so his weight loss has continued.

He's not doing well my friends. This has really been a disaster. A Dr. told him in December he thought Daniel had cancer, but nothing was done at the time to start the cancer diagnosis process. Here we are, 3+ months later, still waiting for a confirmed diagnosis. Nine months has dragged by, with scattered, inconsistent case management, while this tumour grows and his kidneys started to fail.

We are running out of time. Daniel needs consistent care and treatment. While I am happy this oncologist seems to be doing her best, I don't have full confidence Daniel will get what he needs. Reading news articles about the state of the system, for cancer patients in particular, does not make me feel any better about things.

I'm scared for Daniel.

I am truly afraid what may happen if this continues to drag out. I would like to be able to turn to private care at one of the hospitals here, for supplementary care. Daniel needs care & treatment for the cancer, as well as care for his kidneys, until they (hopefully) recover. There is absolutely no way we can do that without your help.

Daniel is loved by so many... From his days at La Casa del Habano, when ship crews came in just because of him, to his managing Kinta and becoming a favourite of guests, to him now at Lobster Shack, where he's practically famous! Daniel takes care of people and makes them feel good, and I'm hoping people will return this good karma back to him and support him in this fight for his health.